Archive for November, 2008

The Scarlet Tunic (1998)

Movie: The Scarlet Tunic (1998)

“The spectacular scenery of Wessex and the Dorset coast provides the backdrop for this adaptation of a Thomas Hardy short story. Set in nineteenth century rural England, this is the story of forbidden romance between a German hussar serving with King George III’s personal cavalry, Matthaus Singer, and the only daughter of a West country solicitor, Frances Groves. The German legion is encamped on the downs as the threat of war with Napoleon looms. Matthaus longs for his homeland and Frances is trapped in an interminable engagement to one of her father’s business associates, Humphrey Gould. Illicit meetings between Frances and Matthaus flare into a passionate affair as each searches for escape and happiness. Were they to be discovered, she would be branded a soldier’s whore and he a disgrace to his regiment… Written by Anonymous”

  • Director: Stuart St. Paul
  • Release Date: 12 June 1998 (UK)
  • Country: UK
  • Genre: Drama , History , Romance , War

Comments

The Second Front (2005)

Movie: The Second Front (2005)

“In the midst of World War 2, intelligence services from England, Germany and Russia collided in a fierce fight for the mind of Nicky Raus, a genius German Jewish scientist who’s developing a weapon of tremendous power. An American agent, Frank Hossom, enters the game when German agents undertake a daring operation stealing the scientist. Frank has to get the scientist back – dead or alive. His mission is complicated by his developing relationship with Olga Ryabina, Nicky’s lover, an actress forced to work for KGB. The love triangle and the international intrigue weave into a deadly net. Written by EE”

  • Director: Dmitri Fiks
  • Run Time: 88 min
  • Country: Russia , USA
  • Genre: Action , War
  • MPAA: Rated R for violence.

Tagline: Every Country Wanted What One Man Possessed.

Goofs: Anachronisms: The Russian team to rescue the Jewish scientist is under the command of the KGB, however during World War II the KGB did not exist and its predecessor was known as the NKVD

Comments (1)

The Secret Journal of Benny Travis (2003)

Movie: The Secret Journal of Benny Travis (2003)

“”

  • Director: Dean J. Augustin
  • Run Time: USA:29 min (DVD)
  • Country: USA
  • Genre: Short , War

Comments

"Quatermass and the Pit" (1958)

Movie: "Quatermass and the Pit" (1958)

“When a skull is found during building works at Knightsbridge, London, the work is halted in order that a full archaeological dig can proceed. The diggers delve deeper, finding more skulls, but also finding some form of tube-like shell made of a ceramic like material. The Ministry of Defence believe it to be an un-exploded bomb, but when they manage to dig inside the shell, dead insect-like creatures are found. The MOD continue with their story, but Professor Quatermass’s theory that the insects are Martians who visited Earth over five million years ago is proved to be correct with drastic consequences. Written by Rhino {rhino@blueyonder.co.uk}”

  • Release Date: 22 December 1958 (UK)
  • Run Time: 30 min (6 episodes)
  • Country: UK
  • Genre: Drama , Sci-Fi , Horror , Thriller

Trivia: The special effects explosive charge used for the final explosion was so powerful that Cec Linder had to stand between it and the camera, otherwise the camera might have been damaged. Linder also had to be wet down and don fire-resistant clothing and eye-pads to prevent being burnt by fire or blinded by the flash. As a result, he had to reach his mark without being able to see it!

Goofs: Continuity: During the cliffhanger of Episode Two (“The Ghosts”) the interior of the capsule is still streaked with dirt and clay. When this scene is reprised at the start of Episode Three (“Imps and Demons”) the capsule is completely clean, even though no time is supposed to have elapsed.

Comments

"The Quatermass Experiment" (1953)

Movie: "The Quatermass Experiment" (1953)

“Professor Bernard Quatermass, Director General of the British Experimental Rocket Group, launches the first manned space flight from Australia. A malfunction sends the rocket and its three man crew thousands of miles off course. When the rocket returns to Earth, it crashes in Wimbledon. To the shock of Quatermass, his team, and the spectators who gather around the crash site, only one of the three crewmen, Victor Carroon, is still aboard. Carroon seems unwell, barely able to talk. Examinations of the rocket by both Quatermass and Scotland Yard’s Inspector Lomax reveal that something attacked the crew of the rocket as they were on course back to Earth. Even more alarming is that Carroon seems to be undergoing some sort of metamorphosis, which is accelerated by a botched kidnapping attempt by foreign agents. Written by Christopher M. Buckey {ChrisBuckey@nospam.msn.com}”

  • Release Date: 18 July 1953 (UK)
  • Run Time: 30 min (6 episodes)
  • Country: UK
  • Genre: Drama , Sci-Fi , Horror , Thriller

Trivia: Broadcast live, this was the first BBC Drama to be recorded onto film via the ‘telerecording’ or ‘kinoscope’ process. Telerecordings were made by filming the image off a specially designed TV screen with a film camera (either 16mm or 35mm.) Unfortunately, the results were judged to be unsatisfactory, and only the first two episodes were recorded, the rest being broadcast live. Because of this, only the first two episodes were preserved.

Goofs: Miscellaneous: During the scene in the Daily Gazette office at the start of Episode Two, the image collapses and turns negative before returning to normal. This was a fault during transmission preserved by the telerecording process.

Comments

Q (1982)

Movie: Q (1982)

“New York police are bemused by a spate of reports of a giant flying lizard that has been spotted around the rooftops of New York, which they assume to be bogus until the lizard starts to eat people. An out-of-work, ex-con piano player is the only person who knows the location of the monster’s nest and is determined to turn the knowledge to his advantage, but will his gamble pay off or will he end up as lizard food? Written by Mark Thompson {mrt@oasis.icl.co.uk}”

  • Director: Larry Cohen
  • Release Date: 29 October 1982 (USA)
  • Run Time: 93 min
  • Country: USA
  • Genre: Horror , Drama , Thriller

Tagline: You’ll just have time to scream… before it tears you apart!

Trivia: With tongue planted firmly in cheek, the jewel store that the bad guys rob in the early part of the film is called “Neil Diamonds.”

Comments

Q Planes (1939)

Movie: Q Planes (1939)

“Experimental aircraft of several countries are mysteriously vanishing during test flights over the sea. The latest is British, and Hammond of the Secret Service, comical but competent, investigates undercover. Also interested is waitress Kay, a disguised reporter…and Hammond’s sister. The government and plane manufacturer Barrett think the whole business is just coincidence, but the ‘Viking,’ ostensible salvage ship controlled by a Foreign Power, has much to do with it… Written by Rod Crawford {puffinus@u.washington.edu}”

  • Release Date: 20 June 1939 (USA)
  • Run Time: 82 min
  • Country: UK
  • Genre: Thriller

Comments

"The Ray Bradbury Theater" (1985)

Movie: "The Ray Bradbury Theater" (1985)

“A Canadian-produced fantastic anthology series scripted by famed science-fiction author Ray Bradbury. Many of the teleplays were based upon Bradbury’s novels and short stories. Written by Marty McKee {mmckee@wkio.com}”

  • Release Date: 21 May 1985 (USA)
  • Run Time: 30 min (65 episodes)
  • Country: France , UK , Canada , USA , New Zealand
  • Genre: Drama , Fantasy , Sci-Fi

Comments

"The Real Adventures of Jonny Quest" (1996)

Movie: "The Real Adventures of Jonny Quest" (1996)

“Computer wiz Jonny Quest and his friends battle international criminals using the resources of the Quest Foundation. Their chief weapon, and the target of many of their enemies, is the permanent, variable, sometimes unpredictable computer-generated VR domain, Questworld, which is entered using VR headsets. Inside Questworld, they must solve puzzles, locate hidden objects, battle evildoers and escape very-real danger if they are to succeed. Written by Cynan Rees {cynanrees@hotmail.com}”

  • Director: Mike Milo
  • Run Time: 21 min | USA:30 min (commercials) (52 episodes)
  • Country: USA
  • Genre: Animation , Family , Sci-Fi , Thriller , Action

Comments

Page 1 of 1,51512345»...Last »